Vladimir Baranov Novosibirsk State University, Russia   Instrument of Death and Tree of Life: Visual Meanings of the Cross in Some Late Antique and Byzantine Monumental Programs Asia-Pacific Early Christian Studies Society Ninth Annual Conference. Toyo Eiwa University Yokohama City, Japan

Apse of Hagia Irene, Constantinople 8th C. Apse of the now destroyed church Dormition in Nicaea. The figure of the Theotokos was installed in the place of Iconoclastic Cross

Crucifixion, intaglio, carnelian, 3rd-4th C. The British Museum Sarcophagus of the Resurrection, showing the wreath handed by an eagle around the Monogram of Christ above a cross, Museo Pio Cristiano, Vatican, Rome, mid-4th C

Fragment of mosaic floor, Shavey Zion, late 5th C Coin of Emperor Philippicus (711–713)

Enthroned Christ with Peter and Paul and the Lamb with Martyrs Enthroned Christ with Peter and Paul and the Lamb with Martyrs. Fresco from the Catacombs of Peter and Marcellinus. Late 4th C. Rome

Apse decoration of Sta. Pudenziana (late 4th–early 5th century) and its Ciacconio sketch of 1595

Medallion with the bust of Christ in the middle of the jeweled Cross Apse and triumphal arch of Sant’Apollinare in Classe. 533–549. Ravenna

Apse mosaic of the Transfiguration from Saint Catherine's Monastery, Sinai, 565-66

Vault decoration of the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (400–450). Ravenna Dome of the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Fonte (ca. 400), Naples

Gareja desert T’et’ri Udabno. Cross in mandorla Deisis apse composition with theophanic Cross, carried by angels. White Monastery, Sohag, Egypt A “hybrid” image of the tetramorph with Christ/Cross in Abdallah Nirqi, Nubia, late 10th C. Medallion with the bust of Christ carried by angels. Bawit. Coptic Museum of Cairo

Ascension. Dome of Hagia Sophia in Thessaloniki. 9th–10th C Christ Pantocrator with angels. Dome of Saint Sophia in Kiev. First half of the 11th C Pantokrator. Daphni monastery. Late 11th C

Cross carried by angels. Vault fresco of the church of Dormition Cross carried by angels. Vault fresco of the church of Dormition. 12th C. Vardzia, Meskheti, Georgia Ishkhan monastery, Georgian church. 966. Turkey Church of Kish. 12th or 13th century Caucasian Albanian church St. Barbara Church. Second half of the 11th C. Cappadocia, Göreme

Kokar Kilise. Ihlara Valley. Cappadocia Painted ceiling cross in the Church of St. Basil (c. 9-10th c.) near the town of Sinassos. Cappadocia

Painted ceiling cross in the Church of St. Basil (c. 9-10th c Painted ceiling cross in the Church of St. Basil (c. 9-10th c.) near the town of Sinassos. Cappadocia

Wall paintings of the Cross, Kellia, cells of hermits in the Nitrian Desert, Egypt, ca. 385-90, 5th-7th C Virgin Galaktrophousa, Christ Pantokrator, cell niche paintings, Monastery of Apa Jeremias, Saqqara, 6th-7th C

Theohanic crosses worshipped by saints, carried by angels. Egypt Theohanic crosses worshipped by saints, carried by angels. Egypt. San Vitale. Mid. 6th C. Ravenna Inserted mosaic of a cross. Ca. 770. Hagia Sophia. Constantinople

Moses with outstretched arms. Santa Maria Maggiore. 430s. Rome Crucifixion. Door panel of Santa Sabina. Early 5th C. Rome Orthodox tonsuring rite A pilgrim at St. John the Baptist’s miracle-working band. Moscow. Convent of St. John the Baptist